A maritime shanty for the lovers of the seven seas.

Floating, a-floating
Across a sleeping sea
O'er many an isle
I floated clear and free

Oh, came I off the cloud,
Off the banks and main.
Oh! Sing I, wake and dawning
Toward the west I came.

Chorus

The night was long
The current strong
The wind a-whistling high,
The sea was deep
The wind would sweep
Me past a lullaby

Ere now I sailed,
With mind so free
See the nighttime settling,
Behind the topmost tree.

Soar to the dawn
To the fringe of heaven.
Soar, to the vast expanse
To the sights of a raven.

All through the night
I heard this singing bird,
In visions of majesty,
Yet n'er heard a single word!

Peace, peace, passion bright high,
Though the night be dark and sighing;
Wake my sleeping limbs to life,
And away, I'm off and flying.

I hear the heathcock craw today,
Near headlands off and calling.
Wafts of breezes nearer the day,
From every bough enthralling.

Chorus

I see so clear the lands beyond,
Its trees of golden sun-lit beam.
Beneath me flung the eventide
Like salmon swimming up a stream.

There grows a flower and greeny leaf,
Its petals kiss and tarry,
A fathom deep, the mermaids weep,
Young maids below must marry.

At half-day's length
This vision's clear
Like sea-nymph, shoal and foaming.
The boatmen near,
The sand o'er there
The sea turns coarse and loamy.

So to the world's edge
A gaudy glare!
Beneath their purple tresses.
From drooping bows
On lands untold,
Young mermaids there caresses.

The rolling mist
Came off the beach;
Crept up along the sand.
The western tide
Did now abide
My vision did withstand.





© Gregory Christiano, 2005, All Rights Reserved.

.